Ford reworks the 2008 Taurus into a big sedan and a 7-passenger crossover

In a simpler time, vehicles came in either car or pickup form. And sometimes, the car had a matching station wagon version - wood paneling aside.

Given that, you might be forgiven for thinking the 2008 Ford Taurus and the Ford Taurus X were bringing that tradition back. But it's not quite that simple.

The famous Taurus nameplate was retired in 2006, but has been brought back to rest on a whole other Ford vehicle, the full-size Five Hundred sedan, a vehicle that never enjoyed the success of the Taurus. As for the Taurus X, it is now the moniker for Ford's former Freestyle, a crossover vehicle that never seemed to get much recognition either.

Obviously, Ford is hoping some Taurus magic will rub off on both of them. But the company also know a name change alone is not going to do it.

Ford Taurus

The Five Hundred was always known for its size, comfort and decent handling abilities, with gripes centering on its power and exterior styling.

Now, under the Taurus name, those concerns have been addressed.

Powering this vehicle is a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec V6 aluminum engine with 245 pound-feet of torque - an engine that is immediately and noticeably more powerful than its predecessor. Ford notes that this engine delivers a 30 percent increase in horsepower from the previous powertrain and when I did my acceleration tests, that was proven by an under-7-second time from 0 to 60 mph. I was impressed.

The engine is paired with the 6-speed automatic transmission found in the Edge crossover, a gearshift I like, and together the two deliver better fuel mileage ratings of 17 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway.

What's more the engine is relatively quiet and vibration-free. I thought that a very striking aspect of the car and wasn't surprised to read later that the engineers changed how it was mounted, moving the engine off the subframe to the body. That was part of a larger effort to make the car quieter, a trait that customers equate with quality.

As for the styling, it's a whole lot more interesting. Ford's trademark chrome three-bar grille highlights just some of the new brightwork on the car, which includes side vents (seen more and more on cars these days) and door handles. There are new front and rear fascias, a sculpted hood and new taillamps to boot.

Inside, the Taurus offers as much room as the Five Hundred ever did. The car has a 112.9-inch wheelbase and a 200-plus inch length, which translates into lots of interior room for both passengers and cargo. Ford says the Taurus has best-in-class legroom in both the front and rear and, thanks to a 60/40 split folding rear seat, a 9-foot-long item can fit inside. Add in the trunk's almost 16 cubic-foot space and you've got plenty of room for stuff.

I was a little surprised to see the straight-across dash, which to me seems a bit dated, but which two much younger passengers of mine loved. They liked the old-fashioned look of it and its woodgrain trim.

The controls themselves are arranged in a modern fashion, however. And the white-faced gauges add a certain sportiness, just as the analog clock makes it seem a tad bit more luxurious.

Safety is a big selling point of this car, with Ford saying the 2008 Taurus is rated the safest full-size car in North America, earning 5-star ratings in all its government crash tests. It has also been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).
To that end, four-wheel antilock brakes with traction control are standard equipment. I thought they were quite good, though some critics didn't rank them as high as I did. Other standard safety features include dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags; a tire pressure monitoring system; an antitheft system; fog lamps and more. All-wheel-drive is an option too.

Dynamically, the car has always been more agile than one might suppose it to be and that's true for 2008 as well. Though the steering could be more communicative, the once-Five-Hundred-now-Taurus, still provides a maneuverable and controlled ride - now even more so, due to some stiffening and increased front suspension travel. So even though the ride is comfy, hit a bump in this car and it will sway over, but stop bouncing immediately.

Ford said it made more than 500 engineering changes on the car to make it "more distinctive, quieter, faster and safer." It has done all that in a noticeable fashion. And with a starting price under $24,000 and a good list of standard equipment, it should win even more points.

Ford Taurus X

Like its sedan namesake, the Taurus X, formerly the Freestyle, has received exterior changes, including Ford's now-signature grille, front and rear fascias and more. Picture the Edge and you'll see the family resemblance.

It too also gets a power upgrade, for a 44 percent increase in acceleration, from - guess what? - a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter Duratec V6 with pound-feet of torque. I found the acceleration in the Taurus X very steady and assured, if not exhilarating. Still it is a major improvement over the Freestyle, which I thought a bit underpowered. And like the sedan, it is paired with the Edge's nice-shifting 6-speed automatic, earning it EPA ratings of 16 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. Dynamically, it offers solid road manners, though you feel it being pushed in the corners.

But the reason you buy the Taurus X is for seating. With three cleverly designed rows of seats, you'll find much more room than you might expect in this well-packaged space when you step over its relatively low threshold. The second-row captain seats flip forward and up with one touch, allowing easy access to the split third row. Even when in place, you can move between the theater-style separate seats. And though the even-higher third row is only meant for kids, with its short seatback and firm feel, it still manages to offer decent room and visibility, as well as great flexibility. You can flip it down, fold it flat or even reverse it for tailgating, with all processes being easy to accomplish via a series of color-coded straps.

Well done, Ford.

Behind the third seat, again there is almost 16 cubic feet of space, which can be stretched to over 85. And, thanks to an optional power tailgate, that space is easier to get to than ever before.

And unlike its Taurus sedan sibling, the Taurus X has a thoroughly contemporary interior with nicer materials, including glossy surfaces and metal accents.

A good thing it does have in common with the sedan is its reputation for safety. Ford says it is the highest-rated seven-passenger vehicle in America, earning (does this sound familiar) 5-star ratings in government testd and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS. It has all the standard safety features of the sedan, along with AdvanceTrac, Ford's stability control system.

My 2008 Taurus X SEL with all-wheel-drive had a base price of $28,465. That too includes a long list of standard equipment.

And in case, you were wondering, both Taurus models offer Sync, the hands-free, voice-activated communication/entertainment system that allows you to use Bluetooth cell phones and media players.